indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Meaning & History
Means "protection" in Old Norse, the root of which is Old Icelandic hleina "to save, protect, defend" (ultimately relating to Old English hlæna and modern English lean; also the related noun hlein is used of the upright warp-weighted loom, which is leaned against a wall in use). It was also used to mean "woman" in a large number of poetic compounds, such as hrínga-hlín, bauga-hlín "ring-lady". This Old Norse name is usually found as a goddess-name, a wife of Odin, possibly a byname of Frigg.